Productive Day... I think!

I am exhausted. I was up most of the night last night with Kami climbing in my bed, Nate crawling out of his bed (he will not be sleeping in a toddler bed anytime soon!) and Kalli being sick. Thayne's ulcers were killing him so he was restless too and wasn't feeling great and since he had a dentist appointment he didn't go to work so we got up and got things taken care of around the house and then we headed to town. Managed to do a $400 shopping trip to the grocery store (in less than an hour!!!) and get to the dentist. His appointment went quickly and we went to lunch at one of our favorite places, paid some bills, bought a yummy fall smelling candle, because you know... it's fall... snow falling in the mountains and 45 degrees is pretty much fall around here, and then back to Walmart and a quick stop at another grocery store. Came home to get all of the meat shrink wrapped and ready to freeze... we bought a LOT of meat! Also chopped and froze a dozen red peppers, got 3 dozen ears of corn shrink wrapped and in the freezer, and got dinner going at the same time. Good thing I know how to multi-task! Made little Bummy's day by making mashed potatoes and gravy (which means I pealed 20lbs of potatoes!)! Thayne helped me clean out the back fridge and reorganize the freezer in the garage and helped me organize the back pantry. I cleaned out a couple of cupboards and got dinner on the table. It was a productive day. The girls even did several loads of laundry but it's just sitting here on the couch waiting patiently for somebody to fold it... but since my back aches from standing so long and my feet hurt and I feel like I can barely keep my eyes open, the laundry is going to have to wait until tomorrow!!! Yep, I'd say it was a productive day, even if the house still needs to be cleaned... AGAIN! Oh, and I finished one book and am half way through another... How's that for a day in the life??? :)

More of my favorite things...

Adding to my list of favorite things... I got Kinzee and Willie's pictures back from the middle school today. I can't believe they are in 7th and 8th grade. Is it strange that I can instantly be taken to the days they were born, the way I was feeling, the excitement, the feelings of love and joy of them joining our family??!!

Willie is 12, and growing up... caught between wanting to become a young man, but wanting to stay a boy also. He is growing up. He is such an amazing worker and is so responsible. He has a great sense of humor, a great sense of family and is a great friend. I know that I can count on him for everything and I am so very grateful to have him as my son. It felt like I knew him for so many years before I ever conceived him. I knew when my uncle Willie died that I would one day have a Willie. With each boy that was born I knew it wasn't him. And then I got pregnant with him and the day I found out, the same day my grandma passed away, I knew without a doubt that it was MY Willie. I had told my grandma that when she saw uncle Willie to tell him to hurry and bring my Willie to me. She promised me she would! He is the first of my little bandit boys and he has kept me on my toes but has brought so much love to our family! Definately one of my favorite things!!

Kinzee is my out going, vibrant, happy young woman who wants everyone to be happy. She just loves.... she loves everyone and wants to help everyone any way she can. She is so smart. She loves school, loves learning, and it always seems to come easy for her. She takes on challenges and seems to have the ability to overcome anything. She is a ray of sunshine in our home. I am so blessed to have theses amazing kids as my greatest blessings!

Just because....

Kailee took Nate out to get him in the Excursion so we could run some errands. She had bought him the hat last night and told him that she would take him if he wore the hat. She spoils this kid something crazy! He adores his big sister too! The kids are constantly taking pictures of him and he cheeses for them as soon as he sees them with the camera. He takes their phones and pretend to take pictures of himself because they take themn so often! We are creating a monster... but that's okay, it's a monster that we all really, really adore!!!

What luck!!!

Too bad we don't play the lottery!!! My girls are extremely lucky when it comes to winning tickets on the radio. First I won the drawing for the cowboy poetry in Reno from a drawing one of the radio stations put on. That was an awesome, amazing weekend! Then Kailee won Larry the Cable Guy tickets, but she gave them away since they were on a Sunday. Then Kassi won Rick Springfield tickets. And then Willie came running upstairs at 5:30am Friday and said he heard I won the tickets to Randy Travis. I told him I wasn't even listening to the radio and he said he knew he heard my name so he went down to ask Kailee and sure enough, she had won tickets to Randy Travis!!! WAHAHAHAHAHA! She said they asked her who they were for and she told them my name. It was awesome!!!! Sadly they can't go to them until they are 21 at the concert hall in Wendover... and I have to say I really can't wait until they are old enough to do things like that with me! They are so fun!!! Today we had the music up loud and the girls were singing at the top of their lungs, and Nate was dancing in his car seat! It would have been so fun to have had them at the Rick Springfield concert. Thayne wants me to find a concert that they would like to go to and take them... so we will have to do that! Although Kassi got to go with friends to the Miley Cyrus concert in Salt Lake tonight... she was so excited!

I told the girls they have some serious luck!!! They said it's the blessings they get for being up that early in the morning for seminary! Whatever it takes I guess!!!

Love and Marriage

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother"
~ David O McKay

Thank you Thayne for being that kind of father and husband! You are an amazing man and the gift of your love to me, and to our children takes my breath away!

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y!!!

Saturday's are great! We love Saturday! Today was an especially fun day with all that was going on. The Balloon Festival, the air show, soccer games, donuts, and hanging out as a family. What more could we want??!! It's always a fun time when the balloons are out. Last year we got to go on rides which was really fun. This year we got out later than normal and most of them were split up and even landing, but it's still so fun to see them up close. Wyatt's and Willie's were the only games we had today but we made it a day of hanging out in town. The helicopters and airplanes were flying over the games all day and it was HOT! I can't believe that I went all summer being outside and never got burned and today my legs and arms got burned. Sheesh! But it was a beautiful day. Between games we got KFC and had lunch at the soccer fields. The kids played ball, wrestled, tried to teach Nate how to start a water fight and just enjoyed being together. Came home exhausted so everyone just crashed on the couch and after we got a short nap the kids went out to husk the corn we bought yesterday so we can get it froze.... we bought a bunch that was brought over from Utah which is about the best corn ever. I will buy a bunch next week when they come too so we have it for the winter! The kids think it is a great adventure to husk the corn, and we aren't telling them any different!

This is the balloon the kids always say is for the Dallas Cowboys which is our favorite football team... of course!!! Aren't they America's team... love them win, lose or draw! :) Or at least that is what my dad told me my entire life, and now my kids believe it too! And some of the other balloons we managed to get pictures of... the others were on the other side of the highway and we were in a hurry so we didn't get pictures of the rest.

One of the planes flying over....

Wyatt ready to play!

Our soccer star.... Wyatt #25

My monkey in the tree.... oh wait! That's Bummy!

Silly Nater's took his dad's glasses and hat!

Kami and Kassi... I can fly, I can fly!

Kassi took Bummy down... and Kami got Kassi! Dog pile!

Nate getting in on the action....

Kinzee getting Nate...

Now Bummy is flying!

Willie... ready to play ball...

This is the goal Willie made... we missed getting the actual kick!

Nate trying to start a water fight...

Great defense Willie

Thayne... a tiny bit wet because he thought he could start a fight with Buffy and me, and got wet himself!

Boys and their Toys!

Friday's are Jace and Thayne's days off and Jace was able to borrow the back hoe from his old boss. They wanted to smooth the drive way and dig another line for the leach field. Nate adores Jace (it's a mutual adoration kind of thing) and when he saw Jace was going outside he was hustling to find his shoes to go with his big brother. Because Jace can't say no to him he asked if he wanted to go help him in the back hoe. Nate doesn't talk much, but he was sure shaking his head up and down and was heading out the door. As soon as he saw me walk outside he started waving. He had the biggest grin on his face. He looked like he had won the lottery or something! What a great adventure to get to work with your big brother. Jace 'taught' him how to use the controls and Nate thought he was in heaven!!!

Look at this face! The picture of excitement!!
Nate pointing at the bucket for me to see the 'work' he is doing!

This is the face of one happy little boy!!!

Look at us working....

Jace and Nate working hard....

Good job boys!

A few of my favorite things...

You always hear about Oprah's favorite things... but that's just it... they are always THINGS! We had a lesson one day in Sunday School about things that we want, things that we desire... there were several things names, like boats and fancy cars and bigger houses and things like that. I thought, and thought, and thought about the things that matter most to me, the things that I desire and it occurred to me that I truly have what I desire. I got my dream. There was no plan B for me... I wanted to marry a wonderful man and be the mom of children. I didn't have any other desires.... and today after looking at the elementary school kids' pictures, I just had to smile because these are a few of my most favorite things!

Hayden Robert.... my intense, thoughtful little cowboy. He will just sit and stare at you with a smile on his face like you are the most amazing thing he has ever seen. His hazel eyes can see right to the soul and he can make you feel loved and cherished every time he sits next to you and smiles.
Hyrum Craig.... my sweet little mama's boy. So loving and giving, with the sweetest personality. He loves his family, loves to play outside, loves helping others and most of all, he loves being a mama's boy! When he cuddles up next to his dad and tells him he loves him, his dad will ask him if he is really a daddy's boy, and he will smile and laugh and say, "Nope... I am MAMA'S!"

Wyatt Thayne... loves to help, loves to tease, loves to laugh and joke! He is mischievous and funny, happy and loving. He always has a sparkle in his eye but that is because you know he is going to find some way to pull a practical joke on you!

Kalli Shai... beautiful, loving, mature beyond her years. Loves to help others, loves babies, loves being a girl. She has an inner beauty that makes her outer beauty even more incredible. She always wants to help others and is our beautiful princess... beautiful inside and out!

Kami Dene... our green eyed beauty who is all girl, through and through. Vibrant and happy and loves to be a friend. She hates being alone, loves taking care of her baby brother and loves to dress up. She is so sweet to everyone and is such a blessing to our family.

Yes.... some people have things... but we have these amazing human beings who have given us the privilege of being their parents. They are a priceless gift. We are blessed beyond anything we could ever dream. And through them, we learn more, love more and gain more than we ever thought possible! They are amazing... their worth is truly priceless. These are a few of my favorite things!

Newborn kits

Last night we had Enrichment meeting and prepared newborn kits for the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center to be able to send them throughout the world for those in need. I was able to give a short lesson about humanitarian service, and service in general and was so excited to see the kits come together. It's hard to think of all of the suffering that goes on and how sometimes we think we don't have much, yet we have so much more than most. One of the sweet ladies at church served a mission with her husband in Egypt and she said that the people were so excited when they got these kits. I love what the Church does for those in need. The idea behind it is amazing and the concept is not new, but if more people served in this way it would probably be a really amazing world. The principle that help guide the humanitarian efforts is that where it is feasible, the assistance given should help others become more self-reliant. Representatives of the Church have taught reading skills and English in places like Laos, Mongolia, and Indonesia. In China they have sponsored training in resuscitation techniques for doctors who treat infants born with respiratory problems.... and it goes on and on. I love Mother Teresa's acts of service and kindness. She said, "One thing will always secure heaven for us - the acts of charity and kindness with which we have filled our lives. We can do no great things, only small things with great love." She knew what it meant by losing our lives in service of others. When we take the name of the Savior as our own we promise to bear one another's burdens that they might be light. We serve Him by serving others and it was a great thing to see the service last night. We will complete the kits and send them on their way with a little bit of our hearts in them, knowing that they will bring comfort to a new mother somewhere in the world... and we hope that she knows that we sent our love with the kit! What a great way to spend an evening!!!

Why???

There are times as a mother you just have to shake your head and ask why! WHY? You know, like why did you feel the need to cover yourself in vaseline? Or, why did you feel the need to cover my room in vaseline? The tv? Or why did you lift up the top layer of your sister's hair and cut underneath? Did you think I wouldn't notice the long blond hair on the green carpet? Or why did you think you would get away with egging the principal's house when you knew you were supposed to be home 15 minutes before you got caught? Or, why did you cover yourself in mud? Or even better.... why did you cover yourself in poop??? Okay, I admit that is one I will never, ever in a million years understand. Even as a child I had issues with um, poop! Or, I even had a couple of boys that thought it was funny to put their heads in the toilet. WHY? Or tonight I asked Nate why he thought that he would punish me when I made him mad by running into my bathroom and throwing things in the toilet? Why? Or even better, why the fasination with toilets? Is it a boy thing? There will always be the question why as long as we have children. And again tonight I had another "WHY" moment. I was doing the dishes and I find wax on a plate, and another, and another, and then on cups, and well... I see that half of the wax is missing from my yummy smelling fall candle, and it is now in the sink, all over the dirty dishes. I did catch Hyrum poking a knife in said candle.... but he claims he did not dump the wax. But I would just like to know WHY??? Who maybe... but somebody just explain WHY one of my children, or maybe numerous children felt the need to dump the wax out of my ymmy smelling candle that is now almsot gone??? WHY?

Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured....

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. As in my favorite quote about enjoying life, not just enduring it. And then I read a quote on my friend's blog that I really, really liked. (Thanks Talitha!) It says, "What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?" (George Eliot) Yet too often, people are not here to make life less difficult, but often they make it MORE difficult. I am sure I do the same. Though I do have a tendency to say yes too often and no not nearly enough. I often feel it is better to put myself out to make somebody else comfortable. I feel like we are on this earth to help lift and carry each other. I feel like that is our purpose. But I am really struggling lately with not wanting to deal with people that are just mean. Take riding on a school bus. The past few years our little kids have had a wonderful driver. She was so amazing that she even took the kids to her farm in the summer time and let them do all of the wonderful things that kids love to do on a farm. They loved her. And she loved them and treated them like they were amazing human beings. They wanted to be good for her, and help her and the trip to and from school each day was one to be looked forward to, and enjoyed. This year things changed and they got a new bus driver. There is no joy on the bus anymore. A comment was made to my 8 year old daughter from the bus driver asking if the old bus driver even had any rules and then said TO THE 8 YEAR OLD that her old bus driver was ridiculous! WHY??? This isn't a bus out of control, this is just children being children. It would seem that we are not supposed to be happy on a school bus, that might make the trip too enjoyable, and we don't want that!!! Or a teacher that shushes the class, even though they aren't doing anything... why would we want children to actually enjoy being in class? When a grown up walking into the class mentions how quiet the class was and yet the teacher was yelling for the kids to shush... that always works for children right?!

I have really struggled with attitudes of family especially. So many times we made trips to our hometown to visit, to have to pay for motel rooms, eat meals out, or even getting there only to be told that they were leaving. In fact we went for the 4th of July, went to listen to a niece's concert in the park. Took kids over to get settled and made sure they ate and were being cared for, and then ran for dinner. Another niece tells us that the whole family is around the corner and then took us there to sit! Well gee, we were just with them yet they didn't mention a thing about everyone going to dinner... but of course they see nothing wrong with that! Garrett told of his news of getting married, and not a word was asked about Tiffany. Even drove out of his way to introduce them, but the only thing was talked about was his cousin getting married. The same thing when he excitedly shared his news of a baby! He was angry. He was hurt. But it didn't seem to matter, nor was it noticed. I have always wondered about the double standard. When we reach out and try to invite them over, or offer to meet up or whatever, they can't be bothered. Yet we are the ones that are the bad guys for some reason. We call, and it's never, "How are you?" We are told about everyone under the sun but there is absolutely no interest in our lives. But we are neglecting them?! We went through some pretty horrible things, including fighting for a child's life more than once, yet there were no phone calls asking how things were going... and again, we are the bad guys. Then nasty emails about how neglectful my sweet husband is... which blows my mind! He would do anything. It doesn't matter that there were times that we simply could not afford to go somewhere... or do fancy gifts, or whatever. But there was no interest in what was going on in our lives. But then that's how it seems to be sometimes. We were told about a wedding that was supposed to take place in August... then hear nothing about it. Thayne was told that they wanted him to accept the award in Tahoe because Thayne worked his rear end off to make that mine award worthy. He told them he would and reservations were made months ago. Only to find it was the same weekend. Of course he is the bad guy. There was no congratulations on winning an award. There was no thought to the fact that Thayne accomplished something huge! Why would it be? It's not about them, it would be about him and there is no chance of that! Even sadder is when somebody chooses to stay out of our lives, yet are angry when we are not involved with theirs. I don't understand! I don't get it! Why are so many people so set on making others miserable instead of assuming the best of them. Of course I seem to be assuming things too... unless of course you count the actual facts we have in our possession!!! It is just so sad! It is sad that children can't be children, it is sad that sometimes people are just mean, whether it is out in the public, in families, in church, on the streets, wherever! I have found when we put ourselves first we are usually the most miserable, but when we put others ahead of ourselves we find great joy in living!!! When I am wrapped up in myself, I find that I am just enduring. When I give up myself and when I rejoice in others succeeding, I find real joy in living!!! It makes me sad that more often than not people are hoping for someone to fail. Sad that we can't spend more time lifting others and less time figuring out how to tear them down!

Temple Trip on Saturday....

We went with the youth to the Salt Lake temple. It was a great day with over 40 youth going. Jace picked up Caitlyn and she was able to go for the first time. It was absolutely incredible to see her in the temple! We have waited a long time for her to be able to go and after Thayne finished baptizing her I just couldn't help it, I was crying! She had a huge grin on her face and it was such a great thing to be able to be there for her first time. She told me she would hug me but didn't want to get me wet but I wouldn't have cared at all! Thayne got to do baptisms for her, Jace, Tallin, Kailee, Kassi, Kinzee and Willie and many others, but it is the most amazing thing to see our kids there, doing such a wonderful thing, knowing that they are trying to live their lives to be worthy of being able to enter the temple. To see so many of our amazing youth excited to be there, doing something that means so much to us, in such a sacred and wonderful place just took my breath away! We had a great time going over, an amazingly wonderful time in the temple and then we went over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and watched the movie on his life, which always makes me cry! And then we all went to dinner and headed home. We took the young men that are in Thayne's class home and we had the funnest time listening to music, watching them dance. They are great young men and it is a privilege to know them!!! It was a really amazing day and I am so glad I got to be a part of it!

Katie and Thayne were kind of racing... not really RACING, but definately trying to see who could pull into town first. :) This is when Thayne blew by her and she had to admit defeat!!! :) I got the picture driving down the freeway!!! hahahaha... it was great!
Willie trying to get a nap... it wasn't working very well!

Cheers!

Good music and silly boys.... a great ride home!

Riding home with the boys.... they are awesome young men!

Tanner's mom says she doesn't believe he was dancing, she says he doesn't.... I disagree! I have pictures to prove it!

Dean...

Tanner laughing... these boys look like they are having too much fun to be listening to Mo Tab...

Bryson....

Makayla

Checotah and Sierra and a few extras!

Checotah doesn't want her picture taken!

Shelly getting a head start!

Sierra!

What a face Jace!!!

Kassi......

Silly girls changing in the parking garage...

Bryson and Dax

Tanner and Trevor

Micah and Jessie

As far as the eyes can see... our amazing youth heading for dinner after a fantastic day!

Silly girls...

Kinzee and Ammie

Kassi and Kenah... best friends

Breeann, Shelly and McCade

The fab 4! Kailee, Tallin, Kassi and Kinzee...

Siblings rock!

Sisters.................................. gorgeous!

Jace and Caitlyn...

The man, aka Tallin!

Hey Kailee!!!

Headed to the temple....

Colwyn, Bryson and Tallin....